Dawn's Never Ending Glow

Patrick kicked at the ground, stirring up bits of moist soil with the toe of his boot. Of course, Anna wanted to talk to him about Janine. Naturally. He smirked cockily at Anna and wondered if she was having this little heart to heart with him of her own volition or if Janine had put her up to it. After all, that would be such a 'Janine' thing to do. He batted around the idea of what he could say to her through Anna. How much of what they talked about would find its way back to Janine? "What is there to talk about? She doesn't want me around."

Anna rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to shake Patrick until his head rattled around like a bobble head doll. "Yes, she does. She's frustrated."

"About what?" Patrick honestly didn't get what Janine had to be frustrated about. He took care of everything. She got anything she asked for. She had friends at the compound. He spent every second that he could with her and they were great together in the sack. He wasn't selfish like those men he overheard women bitching about. He gave and gave and gave. All in all, he thought she had it pretty good.

Anna read the bewildered expression on his face and shook her head. "Patrick, are you really that clueless?"

Patrick scoffed and flopped down on a log blocking their path. "Apparently, I am."

Anna held up her left hand and waggled her ring finger at Patrick. Her engagement ring reflected the tiny sliver of moonlight that found it's way though the thick canopy of leaves above them. "This is your clue. She's planned how many weddings now? Don't you think its time she planned her own?"

Patrick opened his mouth to say something and then snapped it shut. Janine wanted to get married? To him? He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. Marriage implied commitment. A genuine till death do you part commitment. He couldn't imagine spending his life with anyone else. But...he hadn't stopped to consider that she wanted to marry him.

Anna sighed and shook her head. She sat down on the log beside Patrick. She saw the moment of his big epiphany flash across his face and then fade out. Ok. So maybe, Patrick was that clueless. What did he think was going to happen between the two of them? Either a relationship blossomed and grew or it withered and died. And she had a feeling Patrick and Janine's might be closer to its death throes than anyone realized. He was going to have to act quickly if he wanted to salvage it. "You do love her, don't you?"

"Well, yeah."

"Ok, so what's the problem? Have you ever told her how you feel? Some women don't need flowers and words to know they're loved. They don't need a wedding to feel connected and committed to someone. Janine isn't one of those women. Patrick, she needs the flowers, the ring, the piece of paper, and most of all, she needs to hear the words."

"She knows," Patrick said with a twinge of defensiveness in his voice. He thought back. He had told her. Right? Of course she knew he loved her. How could, after all the things they'd been trough, she not?

"How?"

"She just does," he answered with absolute certainty. He leapt up from the log and trotted, gathering speed and easily clearing a stream. Just talking about love and commitment made him jittery and nervous. He had no right asking these things of Janine or offering her a meaningless bill of sale that he would not make good on. He couldn't. Anna didn't know what she was talking about. For her and Toby, the situation was different. They didn't have to worry about who sacrificed what for whom. They were even in every way. It wasn't like that for Janine and him. She had so much to lose. Her whole life. And what kind of bastard would it make him if he took it?

Anna mourned the death of her classic black ballet flats and chased after Patrick at a dead run. The wiry son of a bitch was fast and he knew it. She poured on more speed and caught up with him. Desperate for something to get his attention and to make him slow down before he got away and left her in the dust. She zapped him in the ass with a light burst of energy from her palm. He yelped and toppled to the ground in a heap unharmed but stunned. She crouched beside him and tsked at him in reproach. "You poor boy, I thought you were smarter than that."

Patrick spat out a mouthful of soggy autumn leaves from last fall and rolled up on his haunches. He couldn't believe she'd zapped him in the ass. Hurt like a bitch. "Anna, what do you want from me? I can't. I can't ask Janine to marry me. I just can't." He stared up into the starlit sky and avoided Anna's stare of disbelief. "She's human. It's not fair. I can't drag her into my world."

"Patrick, she's already in it." Anna rested a hand on his shoulder. At least now, she knew what the problem was. "She's always going to be a part of this world, no matter what."

"But, she doesn't have to be like me."

"No, she doesn't."

"I can't love her, Anna. She's human. How can I take that away from her?" Patrick groaned and rested his forehead in his palms. "So fragile. She'll die one day, soon."

"It may not happen for decades." Anna kept her voice soft and gentle. She sat on the damp ground beside Patrick and gave him time to breathe. "You should have more faith in Janine's ability to decide what's best for herself. By denying her that, you're taking away far more from her in the long run. You're not only hurting yourself, but you're hurting her too. You can't make her choices for her and by deciding for her, that's what you're doing."

"Its so unfair." Patrick pulled at the ends of his hair in frustration. Every word Anna said hit home and struck a chord deep in his heart. He hadn't thought about what avoiding his own pain was doing to Janine.

"Patrick, nothing about this is fair. I don't claim to have any answers. But, here's what I do know. If you don't do something soon, you're going to lose her for good." Anna grabbed his hand and pulled it away from his face. "Listen to me," she demanded. "Janine will move on. If for no reason than you've left her with no other choice. Who are you really being unfair to? She doesn't want that. You don't want that. You're punishing her for being human and yourself for not being human enough. And you want to whine about what's fair and what's not? I don't understand you, Patrick. Isn't she worth the risk?"

"She is," he agreed. He glanced over at Anna and for the first time, he saw her for who she truly was. He'd always thought she had a cold, impermeable exterior. Which, maybe she did. But, beneath that, she was strong as steel. She believed in Janine and in him. And in a power that came not from her hands, but from her heart.

"Then you'd better tell her that. Fight for her. If you don't, someone is going to come along and snatch her away, right out from under your nose. Janine has the uncanny ability to make her own happiness wherever she finds it. And she will. You won't. And you are going to live way too long to have that kind of regret hanging over your head."

"You're right, Anna. You're right." He sat there in the dark, in the woods long after Anna left. Her words still rang in his head. He really was an idiot. He had gotten so tied up with worrying about losing Janine that he hadn't realized he was inadvertently pushing her away. Punishing her for his hang-ups. He was the one who was afraid, not her. And he did not know what he was going to do about it.

Chapter 48

Janine sat curled up on one end of the couch while Bryce sat on the other. She was back into her comfy clothes and had a throw draped over her legs to chase away the wee hours of the morning chill. She was nervous and jittery as hell from all the coffee she'd drank. She smiled at Bryce, unsure of what to say. They really didn't know each other very well. And the silence was deafening.

Bryce itched to take her legs and put them on his lap, run his hands along the smoothness of her bare skin. If she didn't start a conversation soon, he was going to. And he didn't start conversations with trivial tidbits, but with hard questions, like the one hovering on the tip of his tongue. "When are you going to cut Patrick some slack and move back?"

Janine winced in discomfort. Bryce went straight for the throat and asked the question everyone wanted to ask. "I'm not. We're on a relationship hiatus."

Bryce raised a brow at her answer. Not exactly the one he thought he'd hear. Relationship hiatus? "What does that mean exactly?" He shifted his weight and draped an arm across the back of the couch.

"I'm not sure." She had no idea of how to explain it. She wasn't sure she understood what she meant herself. Fidgety, Janine tugged on the frayed edge of the throw and sighed.

"Ok." Bryce shifted uncomfortably on the couch, having no idea of what to say next. Did a 'relationship hiatus' mean that she was up for grabs or at least, open to the possibility of dating other men? The concept of it was so muddy and unclear. Either you were with someone or you weren't. He didn't know there was a middle, 'sort of, kind of' ground gray in between place.

"I don't know what we are," Janine said, turning on the couch cushion to tuck her knees under her chin. "I love him. But, I can't wait for him forever. Unlike you, I haven't got forever."

"Well, you're not exactly an old maid either."

"Thanks, I guess." Janine stretched out her legs and the throw slid off her feet. Idly, she wiggled her polished toenails. She cocked her head and studied Bryce. He seemed utterly modern. The way he spoke and dressed was in keeping up with the times. "How old are you anyway?"

"Hmm, it's been a while since anyone asked me that." He thought for a minute and added up the years. Clamping his lips shut, he declined answering her question in truth. He worked hard to say current and change with the times and he did not want his age scaring her off. "Not quite as old as Methuselah," he answered vaguely.

Janine chuckled at Bryce's coy answer. "You don't look a day over twenty five."

"Thanks." Bryce scooted to the center of the couch and leaned closer to Janine. Close enough to whisper. "How was it? Kissing a human?"

"Different," Janine answered. Blushing, she left Bryce guessing. She had no plans to elaborate beyond her cryptic response. And it really wasn't like she could put how it felt to kiss a sweaty wrestler into words.

"I haven't kissed a human girl in a long time. Back before, I wasn't very popular with the ladies." He shrugged and scoffed. "Hell, I'm not popular with them now." He glanced at Janine through heavily veiled lashes. He wasn't fishing for complements. But, if she threw a couple his way, he'd bite.

"Why? You're a good looking guy," Janine said, lightly popping him on the shoulder. And Bryce was good looking. Very. His dark hair curled in a messy tangle around his high cheekbones, ran along his angular jaw, and dipped slightly beneath the collar of his shirt. He wasn't huge, not by the brothers' standards. Larger than medium built, stacked with lean muscle, wide powerful shoulders, and a narrow waist. He had thick, expressive eyebrows. And startling gray eyes veiled with long, dark velvety lashes in contrast. His skin was a rich, deep shade of natural tan. And his full lips were utterly kissable. "Any girl would consider herself lucky to get a kiss from you."

"Would you?" Bryce asked out of curiosity and more than just a little hint of interest. She had been driving him nuts all night with that short skirt and that cleavage bursting out of her top. What was the worst she could do? Smack him a good one across the jaw and throw him out for asking her? He was planning to go home alone anyway. So what was the harm?

"Of course." Janine sat up, facing him and tucking her legs beneath her butt. He had to be asking her a hypothetical question. And that was how she answered. Hypothetically. He wasn't asking if she would really kiss him. And if he was, she wasn't exactly sure how she'd answer. Would she kiss him, if he were asking her for real? Maybe?

"Really?"

"Bryce, now you're just being plain weird. Trust me, you're cute. Any girl would be nuts to turn you down." Janine eased back, shifting onto her butt. Acutely aware of how close he had scooted to her end of the couch.

"Kiss me then," Bryce said, challenging her. He was morbidly curious and more than just a bit eager. Would she really do it? When push came to shove, where would she draw the line?

Janine nervously licked her lips. Her cheeks were blazing red with fire. Bryce was serious. He wanted to kiss her. His eyes were locked on her mouth and he'd scooted so close to her, she had nowhere left to retreat. She couldn't back down. Not when he'd put himself out there like this. It would hurt his feelings. But, she wasn't ready to start dating yet. Her issues with Patrick were far from resolved. It was only a kiss. One kiss. What could it hurt? "Ok. But, it doesn't mean anything. Its just a kiss."

"Just a kiss," Bryce repeated. Drawing closer to Janine, he lined his mouth up with hers and slid his fingers around the back of her neck. He took his time. He would never force her to do anything she didn't willingly want to do. Her pulse raced beneath his fingertips, like a scared rabbit's. His lips hovered inches away from hers in eager anticipation.

"We're just friends," Janine reiterated. A mere hairsbreadth separated their lips. Her pulse pounded with anticipation and nervous excitement. She lingered there so close and yet so far. His fingers were hot on the back of her neck. Holding her gently to allow her to escape, if she so desired. She stretched her torso at an awkward angle to maintain some distance between their bodies.

"Just friends." Bryce pulled her in and pressed his mouth to hers gently. He took his time, savoring the moment. Her lips were soft, warm, and inviting, tasting like the sweet, creamy coffee she'd finished on the way home. Slowly, he slid his tongue along the narrow open slit between her parted lips and glided his tongue inside to deepen the kiss. If he was going to hell for kissing a woman that wasn't his, he was going there a happy man.

Janine felt Bryce's fingers cup her cheeks, holding her gently in place with his palm. Oh lordy, did this man know how to kiss and she was more than a little breathless. His tongue teased along the tip of hers, caressing it and coaxing the response out of her with dauntless swabs. She opened for him, winding her tongue around his, kissing him back for all she was worth. Her taste buds tingled with the sweetness of his taste. And her pulse raced from the danger of a forbidden kiss.

Bryce sped up the kiss, applying more pressure and becoming more demanding. He was both surprised and encouraged by her response. He half-heartedly expected a quick peck on the mouth. But, he was wrong about that. Happily so. She liked what he was doing. He heard her heart racing wildly in her chest. Her skin flushed brilliant crimson, hot beneath his fingers. He cracked an eyelid open, watching her lashes flutter against her cheeks. This wasn't 'just a kiss', not to either one of them. This was not a 'just friends' kind of kiss. This was the real deal and damned as he was, he couldn't help but enjoy it. Reluctantly, he broke contact and rested his forehead against hers. Bedazzled by the forbidden woman in his arms.

Janine took a deep breath, resting heavily against Bryce's forehead and resisting the urge to sneak another friendly kiss from his soft, generous lips. She sighed deeply gathering her composure. "That was nice," she whispered. Her eyes were still closed.

"Very." Bryce gave Janine a tight hug, pulling her close against him and then abruptly released her. Longing for another stolen kiss, he rose to his feet, he said, "I should go." Get the hell out of here while I still can, he silently added. No doubt, the brothers or at the bare minimum, Lance, had caught the direction of his thoughts, and the Calvary was on its way riding to her rescue.

Janine was greatly underestimated. And the brothers were so protective. They probably thought he was on the verge of violating her virtue. And the thought had crossed his mind. But, he would never go there. A kiss was one thing. Sex was quite another. And until he was sure that Patrick was yesterday's news, that wasn't going to happen. He didn't have much, but he did have his honor.

"Um, yeah. It is getting late," Janine mumbled awkwardly. Always the attentive hostess, she got up from the couch and followed Bryce to the door. The kiss was unexpected, and her reaction doubly so. She fumbled with the lock for a second. Barely able to force her trembling fingers to turn the tumbler. And when Bryce gently bumped her hand away, unlocking the door, she flinched from the contact.

"Sleep well," Bryce said. He smiled down at her and wrapped an arm loosely around her shoulders, pulling her to his chest for a quick hug. Her lips were swollen and flushed from his kiss. Her body compliant and soft against his, her curves instinctively molded to him.

He couldn't help the shit-eating grin on his face. Patrick was probably stalking the shadows intent on kicking his ass. And he didn't care. Lance was going to give him the lecture from hell when he caught up with him. So what? And Dane, who knew what Dane would do to him when he found out. He'd broken the cardinal rule amongst the brothers and scammed on someone else's woman. Janine really didn't belong to Patrick. There was no ring on her finger to indicate such. And with the way the two of them had been fighting. She was as good as single. Bryce was doing her a favor. Showing her that yes, indeed, there were other fish in the sea. And Patrick wasn't the only mackerel out there.

"Goodnight." Janine gingerly returned Bryce's embrace and practically shoved him out the door. She pressed her fingers to her lips, lost in thought. What a strange and unexpected evening it had been. In one night, she'd been kissed by not one, but two different men. The only thing left that might shock her more was for Patrick to come barging in on her and give her a toe curling lip lock to top off the confusing turn of events.

She slumped against the door and muttered a bewildered "Wow." The sweaty stranger at Wrestle Mania had been fun. And Bryce, boy had that one taken her by surprise. She'd only been single... sort of single...more or less single?... for four days and already the sharks were circling. But, Bryce was a very, very cute shark. And didn't that muddy the waters just a smidge?

Chapter 49

After another sleepless night Janine loaded up her borrowed silver econo car and began running her errands at the crack of dawn. She really didn't know how much longer she could handle her bout of insomnia without totally losing it. She definitely didn't have time to think about it, not today. Today was for Anna. Janine mussed that she could catch up on her sleep later. Sleep was overrated anyway. And the lack of it was nothing that a lot of foundation and a double shot of espresso couldn't fix. Arriving at her first destination, the florist, she pulled to the curb and rushed inside.

Patrick didn't know how much longer he could go on like this. Being trapped on the sidelines watching Janine live her life without him was killing him. He thought by now she'd cave and come back to him, crawling on her hands and knees, begging him to take her back. How could one woman be so stubborn? It wasn't just the sex that he missed. Or her wrist that he craved. Although, a bit of both, would sure as hell hit the spot. He was hungry and horny, and that didn't make for a very happy vampire.

The brothers clucked around him like a bunch of mother hens. He wasn't about to go off the deep end again. And he appreciated their concern. But, damned if out of that bunch of ball less ninnies, Anna was the only one who had the guts to actually come out and confront him. Maybe, they'd appointed her head hen of the coop or something and she was clucking for the group. Nah. Anna had spoken to him from the heart. And her honesty and her words weren't lost on him. He just hadn't quite managed to swallow his pride yet. In fact, he was choking to death on it.